Sony Show Their True Colours

[Cliff]

Michael Jackson was heavily influenced by Elvis as well as a host of others such as Cooley Jaxson, James Brown, Bob Fosse, Fred Astaire and Jeffrey Daniels.

But it was the phenomenon of Elvis which fascinated Jackson and which he was so desperate to equal.

Those who worked with him confirm that he was obsessed with Elvis' title as the King and wanted it for himself. Elvis' title of course was bestowed upon him by his fans, but it was Michael who proclaimed himself to be the King of Pop, and he even went so far as to fill up his house with portraits of himself wearing crowns and dressed in Kingly attire, as well as buying himself an oversized red throne for his Neverland Ranch.

There are numerous stories where he refused to go onstage unless he was introduced as the King of Pop. One of the main things which he took from Elvis was the importance of having a larger than life public image.

I guess it's no worse than the guys who call themselves Elvis Tribute Artists. Dying their hair, wearing Elvis glasses and clothes, even having plastic surgery to look like him.
BTW,you say there are stories of MJ. Until 'those who worked with him' also confirm this,then that's all they are, stories

[nolvis]

They were songs that were(are)a part of the script and intertwined into the movie thusly, and they to me,are always enjoyable and entertaining to watch and listen to!

[Tigerman1975]

Whether he is called the "King of Pop" or not, he will never be the "King of Rock n Roll".

[monk37]

we can only really know how each will be viewed after time.

2 years out, Jackson's brief post death resurgence is well over

and 33 years later, Elvis is still outselling living artists - and without marking support no less - he's not dominating the culture, but he looms large in the background hum.

so many movies and tv shows reference him to be a variety of meaning - a rebel, a parody, an innovator, a dupe - and that's why Elvis will never be forgotten - he has transcended his own career and stands as a symbol for almost any lesson or personal meaning you need

[KPM]

When one talks of Box Office Revenue one has to take into account the passage of time and the value of the dollar. Actually on another website a fan has worked out that 'This Is Elvis' has outsold 'This Is It' by a considerable margin.

The same is now being touted for the film 'Avatar' as being the most successful film of all-time. Again, it is not. There are many factors to be taken into consideration other than 'current' dollar gross. I suspect 'Gone With The Wind' is still No.1 by far.

Brian

Good point-inflation and world population and developement all have to be taken into account when comparing box office sales figures.
All I know is that in 1981 gasolene cost about $1.25 a gallon and tickets to a movie were about $1.50 on the early show-compare that to 2010 gas and theater ticket prices......the US Population in 1981 was around 220 million today its 309 million..... world wide population and cultural developement have grown even more quickly.
More of an audience with more ways and venues to see films......

[TCE]

Sorry if I sounded hatefull or something else. That was not my intention. I just said how I felt, but it was not the intention to harm anyone. My post was wrong and sleapless dreamer your post is so right: Everybody has his own idol and is entitled to that. So it's better to concentrate on the thread.


Christel (TCE)

[monk37]

It's funny - comparing $ or units sold - decade to decade is tricky.

Money in earlier decades had more buying power and incomes were smaller - but there were fewer diversions - so in a way, bums in theatre seats now is more impressive than in the 1930's

I am fairly sure that I read an article that adjusted for inflation, there's no movie from the last 20 or so years that would be in the top 10 grossing films of all times.


Plus, the Hanna Montana concert movie made more money on it's opening weekend than This is It - so maybe that's the more important comparison.

younger kids have more buying power than they have before - tweens are the new teenagers

[Raised on Rock]

Its no big deal really, its better than good if we let rest a bit that king obsession with Elvis, he didn't liked that anyway, and great art does not need those kind of fascist propaganda to be perpetuated, its own true royalty will shine on, history will prove it.

Small people need big names, Elvis hated to be called the king, we fans should be at Elvis level.

[Wendy56]

I ratter hear "The Bullfighter was a Lady" then MJ's "Bad" or "Beat it"...

I loved Fun In Acapulco soundtrack... ¬¬
And BAD is my favorite MJ song... So I LOVE both.
I can't critizice Michel or Elvis... Though I can go against Sonny. Ha! That enterprise reminds me too much of Col. Parker.

[KPM]

Sony is a business and unfortunately the bottom line is always profit-artistry, fairness, etc will always come second behind profit and loss figures potential.
Its a fine line to tread in not offending one group while trying to entice another-such as Elvis fans/MJ fans.
There should really be no competition in the arts-but in one way or another everything ends up being compared and measured by similar things.
I would not worry too much about what Sony says about MJ and Elvis-they are trying to tread the line between them.... are bound to cross back and forth depending on where they think the more profit lies.